Basic Fiduciary Law 101

Mrs. Laura Akins Smith Related Seminars and Products

Nadler Biernath LLC

Laura Akins Smith practices in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, elder law and probate with Nadler Biernath. Laura assists her clients in planning for family emergencies, finding solutions for complicated mixed family circumstances and for the end of life. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura helps clients navigate through the probate procedure and legalities.

As a native Atlantan, Laura appreciates the opportunity to serve her hometown community. With patience and empathy, she guides her clients through the often overwhelming estate planning or probate processes. Laura finds it incredibly rewarding to connect with her clients and make difficult circumstances easier.

Laura serves on the board for Threshold Community Program and the Atlanta Autism Consortium.

In her free time, Laura loves finding new running routes and hiking trails to explore. She keeps up with new restaurant openings and enjoys trying different cuisines. She also enjoys travel—her favorite destination so far has been Japan!

Ms. Veronica Monique Allen McClendon Related Seminars and Products

McClendon Law and Consulting, LLC

Veronica McClendon likes to refer to herself as “The Family Land Lawyer” because of her deep commitment to helping families, farmers, and small business owners protect, preserve, and pass down their land and wealth to future generations. As the CEO and Managing Attorney of McClendon Law and Consulting, LLC, located in Macon, GA, her firm specializes in clearing title to heirs’ property, developing wills and trusts, supporting families through the probate process, and assisting farm and small business owners with business formation, governance, and succession planning.

She has a particular passion for helping families develop plans to keep their land in the family for generations and supporting communities in revitalizing neighborhoods and addressing blight. As a trusted expert in estate planning, heirs’ property, and farm succession planning, Veronica enjoys speaking and consulting with individuals, business and community leaders, government officials, and legal professionals to provide valuable insights and practical solutions to complex issues related to these topics.

Veronica earned her Juris Doctor from Duke Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University, in Macon, GA. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority and previously served on the Board of Directors for Middle Georgia Justice. She is a member and Past-President of the Macon Bar Association. She lives in Macon, GA, with her husband and two daughters. Beyond her legal work, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and engaging in conversations about holistic living and community development. 

Ms. Laura Ann Shoop Related Seminars and Products

Powell Firm, LLC

Laura is a senior associate with the estate planning and probate team at the Powell Firm. She also serves as co-chair of the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Gwinnett County Bar Association. While attending law school, she was a research assistant to Professor Mary F. Radford, a leading expert in estate planning, and helped research and draft updates to Professor Radford’s treatises including Guardianships & Conservatorships in Georgia and Redfearn: Wills & Administration in Georgia. Prior to joining the Powell Firm, Laura clerked for Justice Nels S.D. Peterson of the Georgia Supreme Court.

Laura understands from personal experience the difficulty clients can face when dealing with a loved one’s death and the value of a quality estate plan. She finds it a joy and a privilege to assist her clients in avoiding the pitfalls that these situations can create.      

Laura graduated first in her class at Georgia State University College of Law and received CALI awards for obtaining the highest grade in several of her classes, including Contracts, Property, Basic Federal Taxation I, and Administrative Law. She also received an award for best student note with her law review article, Uncovering the "Hidden Crime" of Human Trafficking by Empowering Individuals to Respond. She has a master’s degree in International Policy Management from Kennesaw State University and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Carson-Newman University.

A native of Georgia, Laura enjoys traveling and lived four years in South Korea. She loves to spend free time visiting with family and friends and hiking. She also is a search and rescue team leader with the Civil Air Patrol and enjoys playing drums and piano with her church’s worship team. 

Ms. Laura McCorkle Walsh Related Seminars and Products

Powell Firm, LLC

Laura Walsh is a Senior Associate Attorney at Powell Firm, LLC and an active member of the community in Gwinnett County.

Laura manages a diverse practice area with a focus on estate planning, probate, and corporate planning, including formation, tax strategies, asset and stock sales, and litigation. She has represented a wide variety of corporate and individual clients throughout the State of Georgia and has served as a guest lecturer on timely estate-related issues for various business and education organizations. Laura is well versed in the tax implications of estate and corporate succession and she is able to offer clients a wide variety of options to suit their individual needs and goals. Laura enjoys meeting new people and learning about their families and their businesses. She is passionate about helping clients navigate difficult times and guiding them to reach their goals with fulfillment and peace of mind.

Laura continues to perform community service for not-for-profit entities, including the Gwinnett County Bar Association where she currently serves as the President-Elect. She will serve as President for the 2025-2026 term, and she currently serves as Co-Chair of the Estate and Probate Section. She is also active with the State Bar of Georgia where she is a member of the Fiduciary and Tax Law Sections and she currently serves as the Chair of the Estate and Elder Law Section of the Young Lawyers Division (YLD). Laura is a graduate of the State Bar of Georgia’s YLD Leadership Academy and an executive board member for the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville where she serves as the President-Elect.

Laura received her Juris Doctorate, Magna Cum Laude, from Georgia State University College of Law on an accelerated two-year program. During law school, Laura served as Clerk of the Russell Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Secretary of the Family Law Society, and President of Parents Attending Law School. Laura worked in the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic where she negotiated settlements with the IRS and advised clients on tax filings and liabilities. Laura began working with Powell & Edwards in the Estate and Real Estate divisions. In 2023, Laura transitioned to the Powell Firm to further develop her skills in high level estate and corporate planning and probate litigation.

Laura completed her B.A. in English and Political Science at Georgia Gwinnett College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She served as the Chief Justice of the Student Government and Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, The Globe.

Laura is married to Justin Walsh, and they have three children: Kaeleb, Amanda, and Evelyn. Laura is a Gwinnett native who grew up in Peachtree Corners and is now raising her family in the Harbins area of Dacula with their two cats, three dogs, and backyard chickens.

Ms. Tyler Alexis Comer Related Seminars and Products

Tyler Comer is an Associate Attorney at the Manely Law Firm practicing Estate Planning & Probate.  

Tyler is admitted in the Supreme Court of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts.  Tyler graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Hampton University. Tyler received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.  Tyler studied law and received her Doctorate of Law from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Tyler was a prosecutor for the City of Atlanta for three years where she prosecuted Atlanta ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and some criminal matters.  Tyler also handled appellate work on behalf of the City Solicitor.  

A few years ago, Tyler found a love for Estate Planning and Probate.  Tyler is passionate about helping families create estate plans.  Tyler is also passionate about helping families navigate through the probate process during difficult times.  

Tyler is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She is also a member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and Atlanta Bar Association.

Ms. Ansley Louise Armagost Neseralla Related Seminars and Products

Bequest by Kristen Rajagopal LLC

Ansley Armagost is an associate attorney in Bequest’s business, estate planning, and estate administration practice areas. She joined the firm in 2022 and assists clients with establishing individualized and holistic estate and LLC plans. Ansley also works with clients throughout the probate process.

 
Ansley grew up in Peachtree City, GA and received a BA, summa cum laude, with honors from the University of Alabama. After graduation, she realized her affinity for the Crimson Tide and continued her education at UA's highly ranked law school. At UA School of Law, she obtained her J.D. as well as an LLM in taxation. With her years of education and specialized knowledge in estate planning and tax law, Ansley aims to match each client with an estate plan that works best with their unique lifestyle.

Ms. LeAnne Marie Gilbert Related Seminars and Products

Gaslowitz Frankel LLC

LeAnne Gilbert is a partner at Gaslowitz Frankel LLC where she has practiced fiduciary litigation for over nineteen years.  LeAnne represents individual and corporate fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and interested parties in trust and estate disputes and trust modification actions.  LeAnne is a past chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Fiduciary Law Section and she has served on the Leadership Committee of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.  LeAnne has also written on fiduciary topics for ACTEC and other publications.

LeAnne graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law, where she was the editor-in-chief of the University of Toledo Law Review.  She is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Tennessee.